Welcome to Texas justice: You might beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Nedelkoff will move quickly to find permanent TYC ED

Texas Youth Commission conservator Richard Nedelkoff plans to hire a permanent executive director soon, he says, and it sounds like it won't be current acting E.D. Dimitria Pope. Wrote Nedelkoff in a letter to employees this afternoon:

I have begun the process of posting a permanent executive director position. While there will be a number of people I would like to consider, I hope to move swiftly on the identification and selection of this person.

That doesn't sound to me like the current E.D. is a prime candidate for the permanent spot. Making me even more hopeful, Nedelkoff looked to outside sources, not within Texas' corrections bureaucracy, for juvenile justice experts to assist him in the short term. He wrote in the same email that he had:

contacted three people who will be "on loan" to us from their current jobs and they will be working on a variety of TYC projects during the next 30 to 60 days in a part-time capacity. I will task them to become involved in various projects, including policy analysis and operational issues that I feel are a priority. These are some people that will be assisting TYC:

Mr. Uberman has more than 30 years of experience in juvenile justice, child welfare, substance abuse and mental health services. He has expertise in developing clear public policy and operational procedures and implementing interventions that stabilized high risk operations and reformed failing programs. Mr. Uberman has provided consulting services to the District of Columbia Juvenile Justice Reform, State of New Mexico Juvenile Justice Project, the State of Florida Department of Children and Families, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and many other state, federal and private entities.

In her current capacity, Ms. Gadow oversees the department's secure schools and community corrections programs. These include youth on parole, medical and mental health programs, classification and assessments, education programs, and partnerships with community resources. Ms. Gadow has a history of successfully establishing major reforms and enhancing educational and mental health components in youth correctional facilities and the community. She is currently the chairperson of the American Correctional Association Juvenile Corrections Committee.

Leticia Pena Martinez, Director of Family Initiatives, Child Support Division, Office of the Attorney General

Ms. Martinez has extensive experience in juvenile justice issues, including creating a new office in the Office of the Attorney General focused on programs and initiatives that strengthen families and promote responsible parenthood. While serving as the Deputy Director/Director of Strategic Planning in the Criminal Justice Division of the Office of the Governor, she led the development and administration of innovative grants and programs that involve juvenile justice and delinquency prevention, criminal justice, law enforcement, victims services and community volunteerism programs.

These are good signs. If the first several high profile appointments had come from the adult prison system like the last round of managers, it would have been very disheartening. Not only that, bringing in his own people makes him less reliant on the adult prison transplants who currently hold most of the management slots, and should help him exert greater control over the agency more quickly.

Just as promising, Nedelkoff identified several key areas for "review" that also make me think he's started off in the right direction:

·The treatment and rehabilitation programming;

·The use of force/pepper spray policy;

·The security placement procedures and behavior modification program;

·The population management and facility utilization;

·The continuous assessment and evaluation of youth during their entire length of stay at TYC; and

·The institutional staffing patterns.

All of these, regular readers know, are areas where TYC administrators over the last year adopted strategies and tactics from the adult prison system to apply inappropriately to youth prisons. I still haven't heard back about the interview with Nedelkoff I requested, but his first few public acts have been cause for cautious optimism.

This is the most positive thing I've heard in almost a year. He is giving hope to those who have been hanging on by their fingernails, waiting and wanting to be a part of the solution. We had almost given up.

AMEN!! Clean house in Central Office Mr. Conservator and start with Pope followed by the rest of the TDCJers, and then start on all the TYC employees that bowed down to Pope and kissed her feet(i.e. DeGerolami, Williams, Hawthorne, Bartush, Ayo, Braly, etc). Once you do this, then you will have established some credibility with the field. Now go get em.

OK Pope is on the way out and that is a good thing. Just how is the new guy and 3 other people going to turn TYC around? Who would want to work for TYC. If Mr. Nedelkoff does turn TYC around then he is truly a mircle worker. I hope the youth do well in contract care.

While Florida juvenile justice is far from perfecet, i have found every move the conservator has made to be positive. I am glad he is reviewing the treatment/programming I have very little confidence in how this recent change was made, and less in some of the people currently trying to sell it.

Some of the other posters here:

how many contract care companies are there that will take felons? i keep hearing the contract care fear mongering but am unsure it is possible?

Who do all you people on these TYC posts, who call into question the right of other people to express their opinions, think you are?

Everyone here speaks on the authority of their own opinion, i believe that is the nature of blogging.

Contract care beds in Texas are substantial in number. Problem is, most of them are occupied by kids sent from juvenile probation departments. Plus,programs who have dealt with TYC contracts over the years have been screwed so many times by TYC, hardly any want to do business with them. TYC always had a knack for committing to programs as far as numbers go, then when financial crunches hit, took kids out of the programs. Not a good business plan for programs to do much business with TYC. That's been the way TYC has done business since I've been around (35 years). Contract care is not and will not be the savior of the agency regardless what the new conservator want. Bank it!

to 8:52...I believe those who keep the 'fear-mongering' going are some current and former staff who are forever bitter and/or cannot function unless they are causing and are surrounded by constant chaos. We had a superintendent like that out here for many years. He needed the constant chaos of bickering co-workers and racial rumblings in order to keep the focus off of the real problems that needed to be addressed...he loved having staff in his office fighting with each other. He got off on it.

Unfortunately, TYC staff like him are still hovering in the dark corners of our facilities, doing their 'troll' work inside the fence and outside - often on this blog. We all know staff/former staff like them...always complaining, never willing to work with any new ideas and constantly predicting the 'end of the world'. Frankly I'm freaking fed up with them and I wish they would find someplace else to spread your 'joy'...why don't ya'll go bother someone at the Lottery Commission or Parks and Wildlife...those of us who want to stay with TYC are sick of hearing it!

Let's give Nedelkoff a chance and quit LOOKING for something to bitch about!

I am beginning to have hope that there will be renewed interest in the biggest stakeholders in TYC - the kids and the dedicated folks who are trying to save the lives of these kids. There are a lot of good folks at all levels in TYC, who are here for the right reasons. They have to be given the tools to do the job.

There will always be whiners and discontents - they are in every organization. This guy seems like he has the focus to screen out the noise and concentrate on where the emphasis really needs to go. So far, I am impressed. Old Salty

So far I am impressed with our new conservator and his "Fireside Chats" with the employees of TYC thru email. I also believe that he is heading TYC in the right direction by looking around for a ED for TYC. I also know that he can not fix everything that is wrong with TYC at the drop of a hat and he will not see everything everyone see's or wants him to see. I hope he digs deep in the pockets of field adminstrators from every dept in TYC and weed out the ones who are evil and have their little clicks that they protect. That will be a chore and he will probably not make the decisions that we all want to see. If he really wants to make TYC a good professional , firm , fair and consistant workplace, he will have to dig into all of those grievances from the field. What ever he does at this point has to be a improvement on what we have now. One day at a time is the only way we can handle this. He has many one day at time jobs to do to really clean up TYC. Good luck to him and we need to stand behind him at this point. His "Fireside Chats" to us is a refreshing start.

Have you ever gone to a Auto Dealership and as soon as you walk on the lot some bald headed dude walks up to you with his hand out smiling from ear to ear. Well you have met Paul Bartush, he smoozes people and gets them to to believe what he is selling. Apparently Wade Phillips bought this crap hook line and sinker.

The Texas Youth Commission (TYC) must use solid and principled methods to serve youth. It is equally important to employ effective management strategies that will improve operations, service delivery, and ensure accountability.

Accountability – First and ForemostOne of the most important changes leadership can make in the operation of juvenile justice services is to constantly instill and reinforce recognition of personal and programmatic accountability. TYC will be accountable to the taxpayers by being excellent stewards of tax dollars. TYC will be accountable to our governing authorities for our performance. TYC will be accountable to the youth in our care and the citizens who depend upon us for public safety. Finally, TYC will be accountable internally to one another by realizing that we each must work hard and do our best in order to be successful.

Strengthening the Management TeamTYC must have strong and respected leadership. TYC will carefully define the roles of senior leadership and make communication and respect commonplace. We will jointly identify goals and priorities and work together towards them to ensure that TYC is professional, consistent and fair in its practices and decision making.

Training and Developing Staff and Outside PartnersTo provide top quality service to the youth in our care, TYC will not only have the best trained staff possible, but we will also provide the best tools and information that our partners need. TYC will embrace a proactive and preemptive policy that insists on a solid foundation of training for all staff before they begin their duties and that continues throughout their service. Additionally, we will work to achieve effective, practical and clear practices and further, to develop the tools and information that both TYC and our partners need.

Outcome-Focused Performance Good intentions and far-reaching plans are nothing more than tools to help us do our job. TYC's success will be objective and measurable. We are about results, even in adverse circumstances. We will identify what should be and how to make it happen, and we will document the quantifiable evidence of our successes and our failures.

Increasing CommunicationTYC staff and outside partners often do not feel that important information is shared and trace problems to communication issues. TYC will adopt a culture of communication where information is readily accessible and the environment supports collaboration and knowledge sharing. This includes making information available to our youth, their parents and guardians, TYC staff, advocacy groups, lawmakers and the media.

Advancing TechnologyFrom placement decisions to facilities maintenance, our ability to be effective and responsive can be enhanced by turning to technology solutions. We will continue in our efforts to build new management information systems and will ensure that we maintain up-to-date systems with strong reporting capabilities.

Constituency Development As we move forward to new and even more meaningful successes, we will actively promote our accomplishments. TYC will share these accomplishments with stakeholders, partners, and the citizens of the state so that a new trust can be developed that will help to sustain change into the future.

Planning and Focusing on the PrioritiesTo reach our maximum effectiveness, TYC will focus acutely on selected priorities that will have the most significant positive impact on our youth and staff members and not allow our focus to become fragmented and ineffective. This does not mean we will not attend to details; in fact, our focus will be on the details supporting our priorities.

I for one, will move with caution. I don't care about the titles, the positions, or the length of tenure these people have served. TYC or TDCJ or out of state...show me the turn around and I will show you the credit. Give Grits the interview Mr. New Conservator so we can see and document what you are talking about. We have seen the governors pick, in fact, one of his justices in the supreme court is being indicted. And now let's back track and review Pope, Owens, Kimbrough....what the hell ever. I will need proof...great start? Whatever...everyone has had a start...show me the finish line, show the rehabiliation, show me the released kids, show me the new and working treatment program and better yet...show me the staff that have stopped having sex with the youth...that's right..you can't because it still happens at the Mart Unit...in fact...gave them some STD's did they? Well, Mr. New Appointee....gloss over the others....I will still wait.

If Mart Administration allowed wrongful detention without speaking up and now you state staff are giving STD's to youth, we have major issues.What bothers me about all of this is the lack of apparent oversight. This was the model that was touted as a way to ensure things of this nature did not happen. My other question would be how many Central Office staff are present on your campus monthly, weekly, to provide oversight and leadership. Do they make themselves available to staff and youth, or do they show up at 10am and leave by noon to catch the lunch special at the local cafe?

to 7:55a...........Someone did speak out about the wrongful detention at the Mart facility and his name was Jeff Berry, and everyone seen what happened to him. Mart 1 has 3 wings on dorm D with 13,14 year olds on it who have all been in TYC's system for 1 year or more. There is also 1 wing of orientiation youth on this dorm. These long term youth attend school, the chow hall and move with the orientation youth. If someone thinks that these orientation youth are not watching the behavior of these long term youth, then wake up!

Jeff Berry, but where was his supervisor on this issue, and this persons supervisor. I agree JB did the right thing and was transferred for it, but he did the right thing. What about the Superintendent and the Regional Director, where did they stand on this issue? Are we saying it was alright for JB to fall on his sword but the others get a pass? This type of attitude is what brought TYC to where it is today, leaders not stepping up and speaking out, just going along with the flow.

It's really sad that TYC has been put through the mill due to poor leadership. It's apparent to me that we still have poor leaders and they continue with the systemic disease. When people like Ayo and Wallace Brown are allowed to keep the disease spreading, it's tremedously frustrating. When secretaries back them every inch of the way, it's even sadder. You can't win for losing. It sound like this new conservator is not being fooled. He is clearly looking through a good pair of eyes. Let's back him up.

11:05, you are probably one of the Brookins/Hernandez fans. We are not raping kids in TYC and I find your remark insulting to those of us that have years with the agency. Your mind is terribly warped and sick. Get a life!

From the sound of this, the initial description that I received of Nedelkoff as a suit more empty than Steve Foster's is wrong. Hopefully, he will move quickly to correct the incompetence of the past year.

Mike Davis ought to be replacing Paul Bartush. They could have found someone else to replace Bluebell. And what about Walters? There aren't many that have grown up in Institutions like Alan. He and Davis ought to be replacing Bartush and Ayo. And lets not forget about Jeff Berry. He stood up to the bullshit. Beg Eddie Martinez to come back. I'd let those four lead the old Juvenile Corrections Division. But then again, that makes too much sence for those in Central Office. Maybe the Conservator will make it right.

Oh, C'mon....we do not need any more adminstrators with no social skills. Walters is great to work for if he likes you. If he doesn't, he is rude and disrespectful. Don't good leaders INSPIRE others to do their best, not bully them? Mart has been a mess since the day it opened. I hope Nedelkoff will phase out the bullies by way of solid policies and practices.

I agree with you 4:16 regarding Blu. I'd put him back at Crockett where he belongs. Superintendent, but you guys are extreamly lucky that Davis is coming out there. They should reinstate Blu though. He was screwed by these TDCJ staff big time. Now it's their turn.

I disagree with you 5:06. Walters has a hard head and comes off as a bully, but that man knows his business like no other, so I can put up with the arrogance as long as he's consistent and fair and running a good campus. He's very qualified, working at Giddings, CRTC, San Saba, Hamilton, VFCC, Mart, and now back at Giddings. You gotta respect that no doubt. He's paid his dues and made those sacrifices, so he has all my respect. The only employees who had problems with him are those who are constantly screwing up or stirring the shit. He's always left me alone, and I did my job so we never had problems.

Walters deserves to be the Assistant Deputy Executive Director in Corrections, no doubt about it. Paul Bartush isn't qualified, and he comes off nice, but as I read these other comments on him from people I know REALLY know him, I believe he's a snake as so described, and he has no where near the qualifications that Walters or Davis have. Its pretty simple.

Finally, recovering time for TYC. Conservator don't forget about Mickey Neel, she has no business holding, whatever position she has. Sorry, that you have to clean Pope's mess. It sure is a big one. Our agency is full of the wrong people in the wrong jobs.

Well, well, well--it looks like more and more people are seeing the real Paul Bartush--how sweet it is. I can't believe it's just now coming out about Pope and Whitmire--even the media had word about this, but never put it out. Hopefully, the truth will come out about Hawthorne and how she made it to where she is.

I read Hurley's statement "TYC is very confident in Mike Davis." Ironic, this is coming from a bunch of people who just recently tried to fire him. Mike is a good man and an excellent administrator. As for Pope's crew my only hope is that they get run out of town.`I been in the workplace for over 25 years and I have never seen a mangement group for whom the employees have so little respect.

Jim Hurley is a hypocrite of the first order. I recall his news release to the Odessa American of 10/14/07, where he stated that Davis and Hollis were being recommended for termination by Dimentia Pope for gross negligence. Anyone wonder why Pope's gestapo (the OIG) dropped the investigation into where the bomb threat came from?

I applaud the course of action Mr. Nedelkoff has embarked upon, but it may already be too late. TYC is dying, little by little, day by day as good, tenured staff continue to resign. Perhaps it's time to throw in the towel, and in the words of a former WTSS Superintendent (and criminal), seek to be successful someplace else. This last year has taken a terrible toll on me, my family and my sanity.

Hang in there anon @10pm- it's not over till it's over. We survived and made it through the standing 8 count, those that are left. And to quote a famous Mexican Revolutionary, "It is Better To Die on Your Feet, Than Live on Your Knees". If were not dead yet, no need to drop to our knees now! Just a little longer and we will hit that finish line and hopefully all will end well.

I promise all of you, TYC is about to blow. The employees can't take much more and nobody seems to care. They are being berated, abused and belittled by a group of arrogant, ignorant and incompetent micro-managers. Mart is a prime example.Wanda King is about to cause a major rebellion. She demoralizes the employees on a daily basis by castigating their every move. She spends her time asking the youth what TYC can do to make them happy and encourages them to name staff they believe might be mistreating them. I don't think any of you can possibly understand what kind of dangerous situation this creates on the dorms. No one has the fortitude to stand up to her so the staff are being thrown to the wolves. Mart was out of water while Wanda and a few of her loyal subjects, along with employees from all over the state were in Dallas attending some function. Wanda and her people stayed at the DFW Hyatt, expensive even with a state discount. They had to be shuttled to whatever they were attending because they didn't understand the cost of valet parking. anyway, what was so vital for them to attend in the midst of a crisis. Preposterous! Of course she attacked the employees as soon as she returned.Ignorance and cowardice are a deadly combination. I don't care what any of you so called experts say, until you've been on the front line you don't know what you are talking about. I repeat you don't know what you are talking about. I was in the trenches for 10 years. How many of you have been alone in a room with 27 juvenile delinquents committed to TYC for assault, rape, robbery, murder and drug possession. Some of them harmless, most of them very dangerous? I am trying to get the word out before it's too late. The staff are going to walk out.

5:49... I agree, Blu was screwed. I don't know much about Walters, but I do know that in TYC, if you know your job and you do your job, the slightest bit of competency is looked upon as arrogance and bullying by those who only work to get a paycheck. If you know policy, follow procedures and actually have discipline to hold staff and students accountable then, you better watch your back. I've met a many a people in TYC that as a supervisor I couldn't stand, but as a person, once given the chance they were great.

I must say that it was an honor working under Blu's supervision if I base my decision on what is important, safety, security, and control. For those of you who don't know him away from Freeman you may be suprised. I was!

Many TYC staffers have already walked out! No doubt more will follow. Wanda King has never had any direct child care experience in TYC. She has been an assessment case worker and PA/PS before being made an Assistant Superintendent. The most time she spent with a youth was in a one on one hour interview in her office. Wanda used to talk about her relative at the Board of Pardons and Paroles. Little wonder she got promoted after the TDCJ thugs took over. Wanda King is a prime example of what is and has been wrong at TYC. The cancer in TYC has spread much too far for the agency to be saved. Even a radical surgical procedure will do little good at this stage.

All that is left as an option is to contract out the youth to private run facilities and retain one or two juvenile prison units for the hard core criminal youth as a last chance before prison. I hope the new conservator can use his contacts to get something going for the TYC youth in appropriate contract care. Hopefully there will be enough TYC staff left to do assessments and staff the juvenile prison units for the hard core predators who refuse to change.

I have always set in the back ground, at work, in public, and on this blog. I am a watcher and a doer, NOT a talker. I don't like negativity, but I like to know what is going on around me. I don't necessary like authority, but I like those who work hard to motivate me.

This is my 1st blog and I can honestly say that most of what you've said (1/18 8:33p) and 5:49 I agree with. You are spot on.

As for 05:06pm, you are right about inspiration, but it is hard to inspire those who won't give new a chance and refuse to change...BTW discipline is not an act of bullying, but an act of accountability. IS Walters truly a bully or is he just trying to get people to recognize there faults after nothing else has worked. We can't ask for safety and security, but expect to get to have the same out of control staff. Unfortunetaly, this is the only way to get some staff to understand.

OK 5:06, I was at Mart in the beginning were you?? I was on the Pod-A with the 1st few groups of kids that came from Marlin. That campus, was great! It was start with hand picked staff, hand picked kids and a brand new vision. The environment was totally new to me and I was skeptical of the open bay dorms with generally offenders, as well as the fact that a business manager was running it, but staff was trained from day one and everyone new their place and felt they had a say. It was rare to have a staff quit or complain. Mart's downfall was Taggert. With her, the shit hit the fan! Slowly the campus began to fall. Motivation was lacking, safety and supervision where slowly aborted, and discipline what out the window, unless someone stepped in her way specifically.

I didn't like Freeman, but I respected the environment he helped create along with many other great people. People that have now left TYC due to the unstructured environment, now unknown job security, or because they were thrown out because they wouldn't kiss TDCJ ass.

Please 5:06, before you start talking about campuses that are "a mess" please make sure you know what you are talking about.

The only campuses I've been on that were "a mess" was Hamilton, that a volunteer once described as "an easy campus to work with, because they don't search you upon entering," Mart, post Taggart, and the now Crockett, thanks to Bluebell's sticky fingers. I do realize that the "West Texas Wonders" were a major scandal in it's self, but I don't want to stated places that are "a mess" without veiwing it for myself.

To bad TDCJ now has there hands on it, now it isn't just campuses, but the entire agency.

the DMN has a report, by emily renshaw, this morning that Ms. Popes expenditures on redecorating/ relocation were expressly disapproved by the legislature. This article also contains an interesting response from the conservator about the future of Ms. Pope...

Also an astounding quote from Madden regarding the legislature not being told they would have difficulty filling JCO positions. Are they really that clueless in the criminal justice committees in the legislature. This is no big surprise, this has been the state of the agency and TDCJ for years. Pony up and spend some money, everyone in TYC is underpaid, but JCO's in particular need to be paid more money.

AUSTIN – High-ranking Texas Youth Commission officials have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars meant for hiring new corrections officers on renovating and relocating offices – even though lawmakers turned down their request for such spending.

The TYC's acting executive director, Dimitria Pope, said the expenditures on furniture, renovations and telecommunications equipment, which total $550,000, were necessary to restructure the office, accommodate dozens of new employees, and improve operations in the aftermath of last year's prison abuse scandal.

Agency officials said the money was left over because they couldn't find enough applicants to hire as many new guards as the budget allowed.

Lawmakers, who refused the TYC's request to include relocation and renovation costs in this year's budget in favor of funding 500 more juvenile corrections jobs, said the expenditures are at best an inappropriate use of funds.

At worst, they said, they're an affront to legislative authority.

"We have extreme needs within that agency in guard hiring, in training, in treatment programs for youth," said Rep. Jerry Madden, R-Plano, chairman of the House Corrections Committee. "Those are the expenditures the Legislature felt we needed to spend money on – not this."

Ms. Pope, who joined the TYC in June to help rehabilitate the agency, said all the purchasing decisions were made with the state's reform legislation and its bottom line in mind. Some supplies and equipment were purchased from other state departments to save money. Only furniture that was damaged was replaced.

"Given the serious circumstances surrounding existing operations, the agency was expected to act swiftly," Ms. Pope said in a written statement. "All actions taken were done in accordance with the state's building and procurement laws and standards."

Richard Nedelkoff – who was appointed as conservator, the TYC's ultimate boss, last month by Gov. Rick Perry – did not oversee any of the expenditures, but he agreed that many of the purchases appeared to have been necessary. He said getting more office space and setting up new employees with cubicles, phones and computers were priorities.

But, he said, the agency probably could've done without several of the expenditures – namely, thousands of dollars in new carpeting for the executive offices and new furniture in Ms. Pope's office.

"There are a lot of costs that seem to be very legitimate for a move of this magnitude," he said. "There are others that it's very possible for folks to look over and question the timing of."

Asked whether Ms. Pope would be a permanent part of his leadership team, Mr. Nedelkoff answered after a long pause.

"She has been an acting executive director. The agency needs a permanent one," he said. "My plan is to identify that person in the near future."

Relocation costs

Questions about the spending are the latest controversy for Ms. Pope, who has been criticized for an order that increased the use of pepper spray in youth prisons, and whose top lieutenant at the TYC, Billy Humphrey, was forced to resign by Mr. Nedelkoff this month.

Among the relocation and refurnishing costs approved by Ms. Pope and other TYC officials since September:

•$30,000 to move 207 employees and their belongings into new offices

•315 square yards of new carpeting in the TYC executive office, at a cost of $15,000

•$11,000 in new furniture for Ms. Pope's office, including a $1,300 desk, a $1,600 bookcase, two $1,200 file cabinets and a $600 swivel chair.

•Office renovations – including construction of new walls and cubicles – totaling $60,000

The TYC has already paid $370,000 for these expenses; the agency has not yet been billed for $180,000 more in purchases.

TYC officials say lawmakers knew they needed to make these purchases. After reform legislation was approved last spring, agency officials asked them for $14 million – money they said they needed to reorganize their offices and accommodate new hires.

But lawmakers were loath to pay for the relocation, stripping that request from the budget. Instead, they allocated $29 million to the TYC to hire 516 new corrections officers.

Even after hiring recruiters and publicizing job openings, TYC officials have struggled to bring in new guards. Since September, they've hired 418 new corrections officers but have lost some existing guards to a hefty turnover rate. Today, they're still more than 500 guards short – the equivalent of millions of dollars in unspent salaries. The vacancies caused the TYC to use up its entire budget for overtime last year.

Major expenditure

Agency officials have used some of this money, as well as $50,000 left over from last fiscal year, on their office relocation expenditures. How else, they ask, were they expected to set up offices for the inspector general, the ombudsman and the community relations officers – all posts created by the TYC reform bill?

"It's pretty typical of organizations to shift funds if it's impossible to spend all the money," said Mr. Nedelkoff, who expects to have that same flexibility as conservator of the TYC. "If we, in the future, end up using lapsed or unexpended salary dollars for something like staff training or development, I'll make that decision."

Lawmakers said Friday that they believed a little leftover money would be spent on office organization and relocations – but not nearly this much, and not until all the new guard positions were filled.

"We didn't see [the relocation] as a major expenditure," Mr. Madden said, "and no one ever told us we weren't going to get the guards we needed."

Robert Black, a spokesman for Mr. Perry, said that if taxpayer dollars have been misspent at the TYC, either intentionally or unintentionally, "the governor expects that the conservator will take appropriate action to remedy the situation."COSTS FOR AGENCY'S NEW OFFICE SPACE

A breakdown of Texas Youth Commission spending for office relocations and renovations since Sept. 1:

• Telephones and computers: $190,000

• Construction and renovations: $60,000

• Lease for extra office space: $50,000

• Moving expenses: $30,000 • New furniture: $25,000

• New carpet: $15,000

• Expenses budgeted but not yet billed: $180,000

Total: $550,000

What the TYC asked the Legislature to budget for office reorganization: $14 million

• Amount budgeted for office work: $0

• Amount approved to hire new juvenile corrections officers: $29 million for 516 new officers

They all SUCK. Every TYC facility is out of control. Anybody that say's different, go visit one and each dorm without giving notice.

Have Mr. Needledick go exploring without notice or undercover. Start with that incompetent fool at Mart Wanda King. She is a nice lady, but what stupid, Ass---- would put a floundering idiot like that in such a position. She's the type that needs to be on the dorm. Who's running this BS anyway.

You all are gonna be out of jobs soon. Look at those administrative replacements Needledick is considering. Thay are nothing but clones of the PAST!!!!!!! WAKE-UP you fools in Central Office and beyond. UnF------ Increditable!!

12:11 p.m./1-20, you are dead wrong. Not all facilities are out of hand. You're a troll with a negative attitude. Don't lump all facilities into what your is!!

2:38 p.m. No one has said the new conservator is perfect. He will will make mistakes and decisions we won't like. But I bet they won't be in his interest but in the youth's. Give the man a break, he is trying to rid the agency of the TDCJ regime and bring juvenile justice experts to help TYC not destroy it!

Give it up 8:47 p.m./1-20, we see right through you! You're an instigator and like to light fires and then sit back and enjoy them. Well, I'm not biting. You're the troll and nothing you say can change it! Give us some constructive and postive comments not negative ones and perhapes we will appauld you!

TYC is having trouble recruiting new staff because people don't want to work in a place where they are treated like dirt and unappreciated, regardless of what you are paying them. New staff work for about two weeks and see how bad it is, then they quit. I used to work for TYC back in the "good old days". I thought it was bad then, but TYC is now in shambles. I wouldn't want to go back even if you doubled my salary.

While I agree that staff has always been unappreciated at TYC because the administrators have always taken credit for anything good. They have stolen it at times and shown no remorse for doing so. I still think working for TYC is great for those of us that see beyond the politics. With the new conservator we may see changes that will benefit staff. I remain optimistic until proven otherwise. I will wait it out and hope for the best.

Common sense people, common sense. Reading this blog spot some of us can easily see the reasons as to the plight of this agency. One major problem is politics the other is incompetence based on those politics. Yes, there will be politics in any venue such as this but the elimination of it should be focused on and paramount. Removing the head of the snake will bring about that change. When the Head, (CO) has no idea what needs are appropriate for a particular facility and they then focus on each facility working the same; basically telling administrators how to run and do things, otherwise known as a one size fits all. This is a recipe for disaster as history has shown. However, because we have "Politicians" in this agency as all others,(people that are concerned for their own well being)the agency as many others will fail. History proves it.

Field administrators, managers, caseworkers follow your heart, your common sense, do what you need to do to care or discipline the youth (legally). Run your facility as best you see fit. Use what works in your facility. The HELL with Central Office. Step up people fix this yourselves. Take charge of your facility. If you have a truely incompetent and provable screwed up manager or administrator document it and run them out of town. You have rights people. Beleive me you do have rights in state employment. Take this mess by the horns and twist it around, squash it like a bug. This is your agency and the taxpayers not central offices, not the governors, or any body elses. You have the power to do what it takes. Impower yourselves staff. Don't worry about your job, your pay or being fired. If you do what you need to do legally and in good faith no administrator or manager can fault you. If they do then I guess they will need an attorney not you. Turn the tables people.

Close this agency down Governor and start over. If field staff, administrators and JCO Managers cannot correct their own facilities then this agency is finished. It is obviously TYC is still to corrupt and has to many scared employee's for them to take on the tasks of changing what needs to be completed at their facilities. As I said yesterday, the Hell with Central Office. Document managers and then do what you all have to do to change your environment, or find another job people or simply walkout.

The only only people that have a right to complain or those that got canned for past criminal histories that change their lives. For those sorry individuals that continue to making up excuses regarding your workplace rights I'll give you a nother bit of information. Since TYC change to at will, you can walk out at anytime with cause due whatever you feel is wrong or unsafe in the workplace. Otherwise known as a strike if you will. The state now cannot invoke it's unlawful strike policy since "at will" is a two way street. Smarten up people and take care of business if you want changes!!!!!

Mike Davis seems very conmpetent and I doubt he reads the blogs for advice. He and Gibbs compliment each other very well and we are excited to have them both. There are people posting about Crockett who haven't worked there in years. Just the same S---Shakers as always. It's really very sad.

You don't want him back because you know he will hold you accountable to do your job. You must be one of those that didn't, and he wasn't able to get rid of because of your ties to Marie. No, I am not Shane or Blu.

I don't think Blu would come back to TYC if they made him an offer he couldn't refuse. It would be smart for TYC to make him an offer because I think he has a good case of wrongful termination. I for one, hopes he sues the hell outta TYC and wins. Someone needs to open the eyes of these pitiful politicians that are idling sitting by allowing dedicated employees to be tossed out of exemplary careers.

9:31 - If he won't come back, that's fine with most of Crockett. As for his "wrongful termination" lawsuit - that's a load of crap. I'm not saying he was treated fairly, but let's not pretend he treated people fairly either. Even if he was only doing Freeman's dirty work (while riding the coattails) he was wrong for a lot of things he did to people. Just add his to the stack of lawsuits. They'll be lucky if there's any money left by the time those cases roll around. 9:23 - I am not tied to Marie - never worked for her, but I'm not fond of her either.

I did my job and never had to be "held accountable" and can you really say that all were treated equal and "held accountable". GT hasn't worked a full week in her 7 years at Crockett. Anyone else would have been tossed out the gate a long time ago. I guarantee Blu never made her take any of her leave during her 20 hour work weeks. Like I said, I did my job and still don't care for him at all. He was no manager, just an insecure bully.

It's been said once, and here it is again, you have no evidence of Blu doing anything wrong. And, Blu has polygraph results to prove he did nothing wrong. So let's not pretend that he was part of the corruption at Crockett.

The Blu I know was always fair. He also seemed to care about the youth and staff. Some of you folks just blog to hear yourself complain. Blu must have really hurt your feelings for you to say some of those things, maybe you should seek some counseling to get this "insecure bully" out of your life, especially since he is no longer anywhere near Crockett.

You think the lawsuits are gonna bankrupt the entire State of Texas' budget? Oh, I bet there will be plenty of monetary damages to bepaid to a ton of ex-employees that TYC messed over. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Mean while, back in West Texas, it seems that Wally Brown has embarked on a campaign to depose David Fair, the new DOS and Billy Hollis, the Assistant. Rumor has it, he has already made the threat to terminate both men. Hmmmmmm!

10:16 There is a new rumor that Wallace Brown is hoping to get rid of Fair and/or Hollis to bring back Anthony Moore. Hope nobody checks the number of disciplinary files on that one... just how many allegations of sexual harassment was that? not to mention the demotion for excessive force? Heard he had his share of issues at Victory Field as well.

I have to disagree with you 9:42. Blu was probably the best and most experienced Asst. Supt. in TYC, and the way he was done was flat wrong. TYC lost a great manager, but then again, they have lost a lot of great people by doing them wrong. Wherever Blu is and whatever he is doing, I am sure he is just fine. TYC, however, is suffering.

Anthony Moore is a criminal, who should be in jail for choking that kid at WTSS. But because he took the rap for Harrison for an animal cruelty charge, he got to be suspended with pay for over 6 months, was demoted to JCO V,came back (when the heat was off), got promoted to JCO VI again, moved to Victory Field and became a PS II. This is a prime example of the Harrison, Ayo, Wallace Brown brand of corruption at its finest. A good ol' boy network of some of the dumbest, most incompetent, most corrupt individuals TYC has ever on its rolls. One would have to be crazy to allow these clowns to continue to drag TYC down. Take a look, Mr. Conservator, it's right there in front of you.

We at WTSS would not accept this man's return. We have all the hotline numbers ready to dial! He can stay where he's at and leave well enough alone. We all know what he did!! There is no welcome mat for him.

Mr Moore is a worthless excuse for a human being! He made deals with some of the kids and stuck it to staff to affirm the deal with those students. I worked PAT team with him and he is one real piece of shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

His outward staff to student behaviour is disappointedly but unprovably criminal in nature and lends itself to dangerous staff/student immoral positions.

Individual situations created by these techniques are what lead to staff compromisation!!

Wallace Brown---I worked with him for several years and found him to be an amicable guy. I don't know what he did to some of you but he was always real polite and nice to me. He'd always say "Hello" on his way in or out the gate and he even took the time to stop and talk with me for a few moments. I do admit that he had a penchant for the small detail of who did or who did not have their hat on. I didn't understand that one.

Maybe, just maybe, I'm not a dickhead like a whole bunch of you present yourselves.

Mr. Brooks---A whole lot of people don't like him because of his abusive management style. He never did this to me but the people that told me he was this way are 100% credibled.

Ms Pope---I went to one of the "State of the Agency" meetings with a fellow employee. I am an old SOB.

I wore the green shirt.

I asked the questions I needed to ask, and got the responses I needed to get, to make the decisions I needed to make.

The decision was instantaneous after looking into Ms. Pope's eyes.

I no longer wanted to work for TYC. I found employment elsewhere. It was their loss and not mine!!!!

What was this determinant?

I asked her the important questions while looking in her eyes. She gave her answers.

I cornerd Stan D. afterwards and asked him the questions. He gave his answers.

Here is what I got from that:

Stan D. --- Panty waste trying to save his BUTT!!!!!!

Ms. Pope--- Power queen with a god like self image and a vast desire to rule over her kingdom. Commonly referred to as an excessive grandiose personality complex disorder: or more commonly known as; Whom shall bow to the queen.

Look into her eyes and you'll see what I mean.

For all you chicken shits and the one dipstick TROLL on here: I'm not a hard man to find. If she wants a piece of me, just come and get it sweet pea.

Well P.A.-we don't miss you at VFCA. So glad your new job is working out.

The only people that don't have to worry about Mr. Brooks discipline are those who are actually DOING their jobs the way they are supposed to.

Just an update-Donald Brooks was able to get a kidney transplant and seems to be coming along well. I have more respect for that man that any person in TYC. You try being in complete kidney failure with dialysis three times a week and come BACK to work every day after the treatment. Even worked the floor one Saturday when a shift needed coverage. That man gets my complete vote.

Donald finally got his surgery!! That is outstanding and I thrilled to hear that his recovery is going well. To those of you at VFCA you should be proud of the way you have stuck together and supported Donald through such a hard time. The large number of staff that were willing to step up for Donald when his health hit the critical point really speaks volumes. Keep your heads high!!!

However, don't be fooled into thinking that he doesn't know the fate of us at VFCA. He knows full well we're closing and he intentionally makes statements that try to make us think that's not the case. I'm staying until they close the gate because of where I live and family so I'm just going to hang on as long as I can, but I don't believe all of us will be singing his praises when we're out of a job and he's moved to wherever they have already promised him his next one. As far as his management style of only going after those who don't do their job.....I'll call Bullshit on that. I've seen him put people into bad situations that could have gone either way and then he roasts them for whichever way they chose to go. And, to yell and curse his management people is no less a violation of the PRS rules than many who he's shown the gate. Also, coming back to work at a Juvenile Correctional facility such as ours after his dialysis, while admirable, is completly wrong. Imagine how good he would have been in a restraint or his decision making? I've seen him many, many times sitting in important meetings flat assed asleep. I wonder if he would have allowed any other staff to come to work incapacitated as much as he was or sleeping through one of his management meetings??? I'll answer that for you. HELL NO!!! Completely different standards are expected of him from his staff. "Do as I say and not as I do" or else. Also, working the dorm on a Saturday. You must be kidding. He might have been there, but working it is a stretch. What have you been smoking? This guy sends youth to security for the way their boots are tied and any other reason he wants to but won't allow us the same degree of compliance. If we did that, he'd go completely nuts. All he or pretty much any other real management person has to do is step on that dorm and things are completely different (especially him). The youth aren't stupid (at least most of them). They know who really holds the keys to whether they get to go home or not. They act completely different around the upper management and their caseworkers and then they treat the rest of the staff like shit because they know they can get away with it. Isn't a ccf-225 supposed to be a legal document??? How many of those do you think have mysteriously disappeared? Supported Donald??? Of course!!! Would you want your head on a stick? The guy doesn't even have the balls to fire the staff who his wife is sleeping with and he knows it. How about firing his wife. Do you think he would do that? She is terrible in almost every aspect of the job. Think there might just be a conflict of interest there. Oh, no. Not with Donald. He's really an upright, honest, fair guy all the way around. NOT!!! Ask him how many times Anthony Moore has had sexual harassment grievances on him. He's still playing the good ole boy system and covering for all his friends who either can't or won't do their job. And by the way, they aren't the ones he's yelling at during the meetings. I think what we have is too many people knowing too much about the other one's business and not wanting all of it to come out so they cover for each other. What do you think. Yes, we're going to hold our heads high but only so we can keep it above the shit that's getting deeper all the time. I know, I know, you can suger coat a turd, but it's still a turd. That's what's wrong with this agency right now. Too many wanting to sugar coat stuff instead of standing up and telling the WHOLE truth and get the place straightened out. Haven't you read the emails from our new conservator?? While we can continue to hope and pray, there are still facilities going down the tubes. We've had a target on our backs from the beginning and all this singing praises isn't going to change it. We at VFCA can hope all we want, but we need to get our walking shoes on so we can hit the streets looking for that next job. And just so you know.....Donald knows it and is selling us all out. It's a matter of time and not much of that. We'll see real soon.

I apologize that the rest of you had to endure 5:42. Must have missed his/her meds today.You need lots of sugar coating-real dark and stinky. Anyone as bitter as you seem to be needs to go ahead and leave and leave those of us who are proud to work at VFCA alone. We will be the ones with the last laugh at those who "KNOW IT ALL" about the closing..Ain't going to happen. You they are going to pitch tents or something at another facility. No where for those little darlins to go.

I don't pretend to know which facilities are closing, but it stands to reason that since there is nothing currently in place for receiving the kids that would be moved out of the closed facilities, I don't think they are going to close VFCA, WTSS or Crockett any time soon.

The main weakness at VFCA has been the physical plant, not the employees. Therefore, I would advise the employees at VFCA to keep working on the positive. Stir up a bunch of hate and discontent and you may well put yourselves on a list for closure.

5:42 back again. Didn't forget my meds. Don't have to take any...YET. You probably didn't read my lengthy post. I'm staying till they lock the gate. I love the facility and the job and really enjoy helping the kids. However, that doesn't mean that everything is fine and dandy here. You apparently are one of those who would rather cover up the crap than get it straightened out. You'd better be careful. You're starting to talk like those who don't do things the way they are supposed to be done (or at least one that kisses their butts) with your "go ahead and leave" statement. Haven't you figured out yet that's what's wrong with TYC in general. Too many people aware of what's wrong but sitting by and letting it happen and then either covering it up or defending it. Believe me, I would like to see us stay open forever. I would like to see us stay open (pray for it all the time) so we could help these kids and get rid of the abusive staff and the ones sleeping around, and/or trying to take advantage of the females with lessor rank, etc. They do nothing to really help us. I believe we can replace them with someone who would and be a lot better off. I'd put it this way, if you are going to defend these jerks (and you know what I stated is fact), YOU are the one who needs to go. We only need the ones here who like kids and want the best for them in the long run and not somebody who is going to take up for those who don't. Don't try to paint me as the bad person for wanting to get rid of those who ultimately are putting our entire facility and agency in a bad light and giving us a bad rep all over our fine state.

Glad to hear Donald is doing better. As for the folks at WTSS, Gee, right now it looks like the best thing going for them is Mr. Hollis and DOS Fair. It does not look like Wallace Brown is trying to secure his job, by getting rid of both of them and bringing back Anthony Moore, Wallace Brown is really going to sink WTSS! Hope you have a plan laid out for your future Mr. Wallace Brown.

well getting back to the pines, been around for along time at diffrent agencies and been part of "old boy" stories. Crockett is really just another story gone bad. Mike Davi was good but he stated he was looking for a job when he came so he didn't set us up. Wish he was here. The other hand about Blu....gee where do I start? I watched him destroy people and had to smile til I got a back bone and stood up to him then all of a sudden I was out cast becasue I was a tratior in disguise. Blu was as bad as a boss could be. No other words could describe him. As Lawson says Evil is Evil does. Lets talk about Gibbs..she is using a company car and we are paying for her gas from Huntsville to Crockett. She and Ware spends all her time in her office giggling and talking about staff. She has to stay til 7-8 at night because she gets nothing done. Ware is so full of herself she is not in this world. She won't do her job cause she is friends with all the six's/hell they all laugh at her and her weird faces. What the hell was Mike thinking when he allowed these two to run campus? Gibbs is scared to death. She was up Tracie's butt now its Ware's. The two males on the team are baling out. Driskell thinks he knows it all and Bell wont shut up long enough to hear himself think. Lawson is another story all herself. She is black and white and sees no gray. She has Security alright but she is not respected for she is to busy telling the six's they are wrong and to do their jobs. I know I was around when her Blu would get into it.She would tell him to kiss her butt that she was not changing her investigations for his needs. I don't know how she got along with Bluebell, I heard she told him she would take Security for a pay raise. Shes got balls but no brains. Wilson hasn't got a clue on what is going on.Ware came into the six meeting the other day and gave us all grievances that she is overdue on. No other PA does this. They all do their own plus hers. Crockett is in a sad place right now. No leadership. Gibbs isn't goingto give it she is not strong enough nor can she handled it without a "girlfriend" to hold hands with. Wish Mike was back. We need someone with guts and not afraid to get dirty. We got a good program coming in, we can't save all the kids but the rehab effect can help some. Just keep in mind they are criminals and they can hurt you. /for someone who has been around as long as I have and worked in Hamilton and San Saba, VC and now Crockett god bless us we need it.

well getting back to the pines, been around for along time at diffrent agencies and been part of "old boy" stories. Crockett is really just another story gone bad. Mike Davi was good but he stated he was looking for a job when he came so he didn't set us up. Wish he was here. The other hand about Blu....gee where do I start? I watched him destroy people and had to smile til I got a back bone and stood up to him then all of a sudden I was out cast becasue I was a tratior in disguise. Blu was as bad as a boss could be. No other words could describe him. As Lawson says Evil is Evil does. Lets talk about Gibbs..she is using a company car and we are paying for her gas from Huntsville to Crockett. She and Ware spends all her time in her office giggling and talking about staff. She has to stay til 7-8 at night because she gets nothing done. Ware is so full of herself she is not in this world. She won't do her job cause she is friends with all the six's/hell they all laugh at her and her weird faces. What the hell was Mike thinking when he allowed these two to run campus? Gibbs is scared to death. She was up Tracie's butt now its Ware's. The two males on the team are baling out. Driskell thinks he knows it all and Bell wont shut up long enough to hear himself think. Lawson is another story all herself. She is black and white and sees no gray. She has Security alright but she is not respected for she is to busy telling the six's they are wrong and to do their jobs. I know I was around when her Blu would get into it.She would tell him to kiss her butt that she was not changing her investigations for his needs. I don't know how she got along with Bluebell, I heard she told him she would take Security for a pay raise. Shes got balls but no brains. Wilson hasn't got a clue on what is going on.Ware came into the six meeting the other day and gave us all grievances that she is overdue on. No other PA does this. They all do their own plus hers. Crockett is in a sad place right now. No leadership. Gibbs isn't goingto give it she is not strong enough nor can she handled it without a "girlfriend" to hold hands with. Wish Mike was back. We need someone with guts and not afraid to get dirty. We got a good program coming in, we can't save all the kids but the rehab effect can help some. Just keep in mind they are criminals and they can hurt you. /for someone who has been around as long as I have and worked in Hamilton and San Saba, VC and now Crockett god bless us we need it.

Southern, daily and good for you

Grits for Breakfast looks at the Texas criminal justice system, with a little politics and whatever
else suits the author's fancy thrown in. All opinions are my own. The facts belong to everybody. Who is this guy?

"I always tell people interested in these issues that your blog is the most important news source, and have had high-ranking corrections officials tell me they read it regularly."

- Scott Medlock, Texas Civil Rights Project

"a helluva blog"

- Solomon Moore, NY Times criminal justice correspondent

"Congrats on building one of the most read and important blogs on a specific policy area that I've ever seen"

- Donald Lee, Texas Conference of Urban Counties

GFB "is a fact-packed, trustworthy reporter of the weirdness that makes up corrections and criminal law in the Lone Star State" and has "shown more naked emperors than Hans Christian Andersen ever did."

-Attorney Bob Mabry, Woodlands

"Grits really shows the potential of a single-state focused criminal law blog"

- Corey Yung, Sex Crimes Blog

"I regard Grits for Breakfast as one of the most welcome and helpful vehicles we elected officials have for understanding the problems and their solutions."

Tommy Adkisson,Bexar County Commissioner

"dude really has a pragmatic approach to crime fighting, almost like he’s some kind of statistics superhero"